Patterico's Pontifications

9/24/2005

Moron of the Day: Oliver Willis

Filed under: Morons,Race — Patterico @ 1:21 pm



Race-hustler Oliver Willis recently criticized Captain Ed for Ed’s praise for Maryland’s lieutenant governor Michael Steele. Ed had said:

As one of a handful of prominent black conservatives coming up through the ranks, any election involving Michael Steele will have a high priority for Democratic opposition. I had the good fortune to see Steele speak in person to the Republican convention in 2004, and the man will provide Democrats with nightmares on the stump. Articulate, knowledgeable, passionate, and humorous, he embodies the communication skills of a Ronald Reagan with a keen grasp of policy. He may need more seasoning before making a run for national office perhaps, but not much more. Apparently, the Democrats agree.

Oliver articulated his reaction in this way:

Aw lawzy! That Michael Steele is sho nuff one of them “articulate” negroes. One of “the good ones”, you know?

Apparently, as Oliver articulates the issue, praising black people is racist. So I’m sure Oliver will consider me the opposite of a racist when I say that Oliver is stuck on stupid.

24 Responses to “Moron of the Day: Oliver Willis”

  1. “stuck on Stupid” implies the possibility of getting unstuck on stupid – no way -“Stupid is as stupid does”

    Ray (75a3b5)

  2. “Apparently, as Oliver articulates the issue, praising black people is racist”

    Black people love being called articulate. I saw in on a website: http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com

    actus (c9e62e)

  3. Articulate: 1) Endowed with the power of speech. 2) Composed of distinct, meaningful syllables or words, as human speech. 3) Expressing oneself easily in clear and effective language: an articulate speaker. 4) Characterized by the use of clear, expressive language: an articulate essay. 5) Anatomy. Consisting of sections united by joints; jointed.

    You’re right actus, and your snide comment is a sharp criticism of Patterico, like always. Captain Ed was clearly suggesting that Michael Steele is nothing more than a section united by joints. And since “joint” means a marijuana cigarette, he was also calling Steele a drug user. What a racist.

    Matto Ichiban (cd9a4c)

  4. ” And since “joint” means a marijuana cigarette, he was also calling Steele a drug user. What a racist.”

    Its racist to call someone a drug user?

    actus (c9e62e)

  5. Its racist to call someone a drug user?

    I think Actus thought that site he linked was for real.

    Patterico (4e4b70)

  6. Oliver apparently decided to delete my comment from his website. Perhaps it made him uncomfortable for some reason. In any case, here goes.

    Several years ago (OK, it was 25 years ago), I overheard a woman speaking in the most beautiful voice and diction I had ever heard. She spoke in precise, grammatically-perfect sentences and her diction was mesmerizing. It turned out that the speaker was an African-American female medical student who was doing a rotation through our Department (OB/Gyn). I commented to her that listening to her reminded me of Barbara Jordan. Her only reply to what I thought was a complement was an annoyed look.

    Barbara Jordan, for those who are too young to remember, was an African-American Congresswoman from Texas who gained fame for her eloquence during the Nixon impeachment. Even if they didn’t agree with her politics, conservatives repected her for her keen intellect and eloquence.

    I later asked this young woman if I had offended her in some way. She told me that her speech has always been a “problem.” I was totally baffled by this and asked her to explain. The sad story that she told has haunted me for years.

    She was born into an upper-middle class black family. Her father was a dentist and her mother was a college English professor. Her mother read to her from the English classics from an early age and drilled her on grammar and diction. She could read by age five.

    When she started having more contact with black children, they mocked her for “putting on airs,” and “trying to act white.” To fit in better, she tried to imitate the speech of other black children, but she couldn’t quite get it right which only invited more ridicule. When her mother heard her she became furious and told her “I taught you Standard English and you will speak Standard English. I forbid you to use that ‘gutter talk’ in our home.”

    It only got worse in high school, where black peers called her “Oreo.” In college, the taunts were more sophisticated, but also more hurtful. They told her that she was “not an authentic black” and called her “Step ‘n’ Fechit.” They accused her of “selling out to the man.” To make matters worse, she was an excellent student who was the valedictorian of her predominently white high school, and was later accepted to medical school.

    She said that whites always praise her speech, her intellect and her accomplishments. Blacks always mocked her for her speech, and looked at her intellect and accomplishments with suspicion.

    I’m not sure what lesson we can learn from her story, but I have always been deeply affected by it.

    David

    David (9e8b57)

  7. I think Willis has a fair point:

    There are too many black professionals and politicians in this country in this day and age to have the fact that they all don’t sound like they come out of the ghetto be treated as a miracle of some sorts.

    I don’t let it bother me, but I live in the south and at times I talk to people who are surprised that I doun’t talk, you know, “ignernt.”

    Tillman (1cf529)

  8. Tillman,

    You seem pretty articulate . . . for a Southerner.

    Patterico (4e4b70)

  9. Anyway, how does Willis have any kind of point at all? How in the hell was Captain Ed treating Steele’s articulatenessinosity as a “miracle”?

    O-Dub’s hypersensitivity is typical of the race-hustling whiners.

    Patterico (4e4b70)

  10. LOL, why thank you Patterico. But I just have spelling issues at times you know.

    Incidentally, I’ve wanted to complement you for allowing comments here on your blog. I would visit more conservative blogs, but few of them allow comments from us mere mortals. I suppose it is because of the authoritarian mindset of most republicans. Anyway, I applaud your willingness to allow that other viewpoints be heard.

    Tillman (1cf529)

  11. Keep visiting. Just don’t call me a liar anymore, okay? I have a thing about that.

    Patterico (4e4b70)

  12. Tillman, some others would let you comment on their sites . . . if they were good enough with their site design to be able!

    Dana R. Pico (a9eb8b)

  13. “I think Actus thought that site he linked was for real.”

    heh.

    “Just don’t call me a liar anymore, okay? I have a thing about that.”

    You’re not the only one.

    “I taught you Standard English and you will speak Standard English. I forbid you to use that ‘gutter talk’ in our home.”

    Looks like the judgement of people’s speech came from both sides of the aisle.

    actus (c9e62e)

  14. OK, Patterico. I won’t accuse you of telling a lie again. Agreed. (But do I have to sign anything?)

    Back to the articulatenessinosity deal:
    OK, I’ll spell it out for you. If you are surprised to hear a black person talk like white people, then some prejudicial ideas may be at work there. It implies that you always expect to hear black slang from black people. (You have stereotyped black people as always talking ghetto.)

    On the other hand, you have a point. I will have to say that maybe that is being a little too sensitive. (It’s not like your accusing them of, say, lying or something.) But put yourself in their spot – what if you heard it over and over – and often – for years?

    Tillman (1cf529)

  15. Ed said:

    Articulate, knowledgeable, passionate, and humorous, he embodies the communication skills of a Ronald Reagan with a keen grasp of policy.

    There is just nothing racist about that. Ed does not express “surprise” at Steele’s articulosity (what is the real word for that anyway?). He just mentions it — among several other things. Is he suggesting blacks aren’t generally funny by calling Steele “humorous”? Come on.

    Patterico (4e4b70)

  16. I guess you can say either “articulateness” or “articulacy,” according to the online dictionary. What a couple of crappy words those are.

    Patterico (4e4b70)

  17. Well, I suppose that depends on how often “articulate” is used to describe a white government official’s credentials. Are there any examples of that credential being used for a white government official (um, outside the southern states anyway)? I mean “Yeah, he talks real good” isn’t a remarkable complement.

    Tillman (1cf529)

  18. The New York Times called Adlai Stevenson “articulate” in his 1965 obituary (see here), Wikipedia uses it to describe a German politician, here’s a NYT review of “Rosanne” that uses the word “articulate”, and finally here’s the word describing John Edwards.

    Perhaps the word “articulate” may be used in a condescending manner toward blacks, but it seems pretty clear that Captain Ed is using it as a compliment. It goes beyond mere competence in english to call someone articulate; I would certainly take it as a compliment if my verbal ability ever improves to the point that someone calls me articulate.

    Calling racism here makes about as much sense as saying that every image of a black person eating a watermellon is the equivalent of a minstrel show.

    Matto Ichiban (cd9a4c)

  19. “Like crazy glue to stupid”

    Doug (1cafad)

  20. It’s a shame I can’t post pictures to this site, because one of my friends e-mailed me a picture of the lovely Mrs Sheehan hugging the Reverend Jackson, with the caption “Stuck on Stupid” attached! 🙂

    Dana R. Pico (8d0335)

  21. Maybe the use of “articulate” is also an Italian thing, or a Southern thing – google on articulate in combination with Mario Cuomo or John Edwards, and there are plenty of relevant hits.

    My fave – Mario Cuomo’s mini-bio says this:

    Mario M. Cuomo is the former three-term Democratic Governor of New York State. He twice set New York records for highest popular vote ever achieved in a statewide election. Widely respected as a passionate and articulate voice for justice, social responsibility, and diversity, he currently practices law at Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

    Mary Beth Cahill, Kerry’s insensitive campaign manager, described Edwards as “articulate”, not realizng that her unspoken suggestion that it is a surprise to find a Southern white guy who can speak would cost hem the South.

    Tom Maguire (3f7e6c)

  22. A white music professional may be described as having “soul,” while an African American would not, since the general assumption is that “soul” in music is an inherent quality in African American musicians. African Americans created jazz and blues which adds to the creatability of that assumption. Calling it racism for describing a white person as having soul seems ridiculous, although it may be true. Calling it racism for using the word “articulate” to describe an African American is a good debate. Being articulate and communicating well is a more desirable than soul for politicians, broadcasters or coaches of sports teams (which is where the “articulate” comment generally comes up). I don’t think we are at the point where racism should rear its ugly head in the coversation, but I think it is getting close to that point. My hope is that when publicly describing African Americans, people should avoid using the word articulate, and try to describe the person’s positive qualities in a less cliched way.

    Erik (06ae10)

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